MASON, Ohio - Behind a hot start and then a nail-biting ending effort, the #6 seeded Ohio Dominican Panthers (22-28) baseball team started the 2025 Great Midwest Baseball Championship with an 9-8 win over the #3 seeded Ashland Eagles (35-16) on Wednesday (May 7) afternoon. 

ODU jumped out to an 8-0 lead through six innings and then held off the charging Eagles, who outscored the Panthers 8-1 in the final three frames. Jacob Adams drove in four runs with two extra-base hits to lead the charge. 

The Panthers got two on with a single and walk in the first inning but could not score but the next four innings were not the same for ODU. In the second inning, Noah Schacht singled and Jake Scherette walked to bring Adams to the plate with two outs. Adams lifted a fly ball deep to left field, clearing the fence for a three-run homer and an early lead for the Panthers. 

More traffic on the bases made things challenging for Ashland starter Hunter Allen. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases with no outs in the third inning. Mason Kurtz bounced into a potential double play ball but the return throw from the second baseman sailed over the first baseman and out of play. Two runs scored on the play as the lead grew to 5-0. 

ODU closed the book on Allen in the fourth inning on a RBI triple by Adams and a RBI ground-out by Peter Jelenic. Allen was touched for seven runs in 3.2 innings. 

After Kurtz doubled down the right field line, Scherette made it 8-0 in the fifth inning with a RBI single. 

Steven Chapman started for the Panthers and cruised through the first six innings, allowing three hits for the Eagles. Ashland started to rally in the seventh inning - loading the bases with two singles and a walk with one out. Chapman got the second out by a pinch-hit strikeout. With the bases loaded, Ashland's Sam Witt attempted to score on a passed ball but was called out. Upon video review, the call was overturned - allowing the inning to continue and Ashland added four more runs to make it an 8-5 game. 

One inning later, the Panthers used the video review to keep their inning alive. Jordan Daniels and Adams worked back-to-back walks before Daniels swiped third base. Jelenic grounded into a potential double play ball but review overturned the call at first base, allowing Jelenic to reach and Daniels' run to score. The Panthers gained a run back at 9-5. 

Ashland scored two runs in the eighth inning against Gavin Mangus to pull within 9-7. A leadoff error in the bottom of the ninth got the tying run to the plate as that run scored but Andrew Mouch stranded the tying run on base. 

Chapman finished with five runs allowed in 6.2 innings pitched, giving up six hits and two walks with four strikeouts for his sixth win. Chase Hunt walked two batters in the seventh inning before Mangus allowed two unearned runs in 1.1 innings. Mouch got his fifth save with one unearned run allowed in the ninth. 

Adams, Drew Emerson and Kurtz had two hits with Adams and Kurtz having two extra-base hits each. Adams was responsible for four RBI as Jelenic plated two despite an 0-2 day. 

ODU will advance to the Pool A winner's bracket contest to play a familiar foe on Thursday (May 8). The Panthers will match up with the #7 seeded Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers, who knocked off the #2 seeded Walsh Cavaliers. That game is scheduled for 10:00 AM on Thursday at Prasco Park.